Discussion:
Write the answers to the following questions:
• What are the three different kinds of production-based utility?
• What are the major differences between goods-production operations and service operations?
• What are the major differences between high-contact and low-contact service systems?
• What are the five major categories of operations planning?
• What are the input resources and finished products in the following services?
o Real estate firm
o Child-care facility
o Bank
o City water and electric department
o Hotel
•Analyze the location of a local firm where you do business (perhaps a restaurant, a supermarket, or a manufacturing firm). What problems do you see with this location? What recommendations would you make to management?
•Find good examples of a synthetic production process and an analytic process. Explain your choices.
•Explain how productivity and quality can be used as competitive tools. Use a specific product, good, or service as an example.